Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Negril?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Negril or Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Negril and Roatan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Negril or Roatan?
Negril
Negril is a town in western Jamaica known for its miles of white sand beaches and cliffs. It is certainly one of the more laid back towns on the island yet still attracts a lot of tourists. The hotels are as close to the water as you can get, and the sand gets whiter and whiter the further away from populated areas you get. The water is unbelievably clear and warm in Negril!
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $137Roatan $38
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $137, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $38. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Negril and Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $104Roatan $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $208Roatan $22
Compare Hotels in Negril and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Roatan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Negril Hotel Prices and Roatan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.57Roatan $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:
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Taxi From Airport$13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril
Also for Negril, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Grand Palladium Transfer 1 Way: $23
- Grand Palladium Private Transfers from MBJ Airport: $32
- Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Negril Resorts Transfer 1 way: $33
- Private Transfer from MBJ Airport to Grand Palladium Hotel: $36
- Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium: $38
- Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium: $40
- Montego Bay Airport Private Taxi Transfer To Negril Hotels : $41
- Private Airport Transfer to or from Hotel in Negril: $43
- Private Airport Transfer Grand Palladium/ Lady Hamilton Jamaica: $47
- Grand Palladium Private Airport Transfer: $48
- Private Airport Transfers to Negril Hotels: $48
- One-Way & Round-Trip Private Transfer from Montego Bay to Negril *42O VIP Option: $50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$4.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Roatan Island Buggy Adventure plus Transfer: $217
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Monkey & Sloth Park, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Snorkeling, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
- North Side Blue Channel & Starfish Snorkeling, 20min JetSki, Transfer Included: $165
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $147
- Horseback Riding, Beach with Palapa and Transfer: $130
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, Hiking, Beach Break plus Transfer Included: $130
- Parasailing adventure with round trip transfers included: $130
- Scuba Dive in the West End of Roatan with Private Transfer: $125
- South Side Horseback Riding, Beach Break & Roundway Transfer: $120
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $115
- Transfers, Zip Line and Monkey Park: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan and Negril change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNegril $22Roatan $9.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril
For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $68
- Zimbali Mountain Cooking Studio: $80
- Private 3-5h Natural Herbs Tour, Shopping & Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $108
- Local food tour and local fields : $164
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Private Roundtrip Transfer to West End for Dinner and Nightlife : $70
- Catamaran Tiki Boat Sunset Snorkeling Dinner Cruise in Roatan: $127
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Roatan $27
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril
For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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2 Hr Horseback Ride$43
Tours and Activities in Negril
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.
- From Negril/Palladium: Negril Beach and Ricks Cafe Tour: $49
- Negril Beach Experience & Rick's Cafe from Negril: $59
- Buddle's Taxi and Tours : $60
- Zimbali's Rasta Tour Lunch: $65
- Negril Beach and Catamaran Cruise: $79
- Negril guided day tour:7 mile beach and sunset at Ricks Cafe: $80
- Negril Country Side Tour & Rick's Cafe : $82
- Ricks Cafe Sunset Catamaran & Snorkeling Cruise Negril: $85
- Rick's Cafe Sunset Cruise and Snorkelling: $90
- Negril day tour from Montego Bay: $90
- Ricks cafe & 7mile Beach Private Tour from Montego Bay.: $95
- Mayfield falls Private Tour: $100
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- 1 Stop Snorkel Adventure with Beach Break: $40
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkeling and West Bay Beach Break : $78
- 4-Hour East Side Roatan Private Guided Tour with Canoe Ride: $120
- ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $110
- Atv Island Tour: $85
- Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
- Cruise Excursion – 2 Scuba Dives with transport (for certified divers): $175
- Cruise Guest Half Day Small Group Snorkel with Private Transport: $105
- Cruise Ship Combo: Sloths, Chocolate Factory, City Tour, Beach, Private Shuttle: $75
- Cruise Ship Multiple Snorkeling, Snacks, Music & Private Vehicle: $110
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.95Roatan $7.02
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Roatan, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Roatan is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Negril would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Negril than you might in Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Roatan?
Roatan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Roatan, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.